Additive cytoprotective effects of two bioactive regions of pro-opiomelanocortin hormone

ABSTRACT

Computational analysis was used to define repetitive and bioactive regions of the pro-opiomelanocortin SYSME-HFRWGKPV and YGGFM. Cytoprotection model of the ethanol induced gastric lesion was used to prove the additive cytoprotective effects of the combination of sequences SYSMEHFRWGKPV and YGGFM, when compared to the individual peptid sequences. The combination of two sequences SYSMEHFRWGKPV and YGGFM is denoted KOMET and patented. The purpose of the administration of KOMET is to obtain better and stronger pharmacologic effects on the systemic and local modulation of the inflammation and wound healing. Additional structural formulas which represent different combinations of both sequences were also defined as: KOMET-1 with sequence YGGFMSYSMEHFRWGKPVYGGFM, KOMET-2 with sequence YGGFMSYSMEHFRWGKPV and KOMET-3 with sequence SYSMEHFRWGKPVYGGFM.

TECHNICAL AREA OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a combination of two bioactive peptides extracted from the pro-opiomelanocortin hormone, that enables additive cytoprotective effects and modulation of the inflammatory response and tissue/wound healing. The combination of two pro-opiomelanocortin of peptides enables better pharmacologic effects and tissue leasion healing.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Bioactive parts of the protein and gene sequences are often 5 to 15 amino acid long and, repetitive peptides, separated by the larger amino acid blocks of undefined function (1-5) Computational analyses may be used for the extraction of such motifs and subsequent manipulation with the bioactive effects their protein regions (1-5). The invention represents, a combination of two repetitive and bioactive regions of the pro-opiomelanocortin hormone that exhibits additive cytoprotective and pharmacological effects.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

Repetitive peptide motifs within a single protein or a protein family represent, together with their matching complementary sequences, regions that are linked to the bioactivity of the larger molecular structures (1-5).

Modern programming techniques, developement of the softwares and databases of the protein and gene structures enabled the computer modelling of repetitive, bioactive and complementary structures of the large number of different proteins (1-5). Consequently, the extraction of short and repetitive motifs may be done on a personal computer quickly and easily (1-5). We analysed repetitive and bioactive peptides of the pro-opiomelanocortin molecule by means of the software SCAN (3-5) in order to obtain possible combination of elements with additive pharmacologic and cytoprotective effects.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to obtain additive cytoprotective pharmacologic effects by combining two repetitive and bioactive peptides of the pro-opiomelanocortin hormone molecule.

The inovation is in the fact that, instead of the random pharmacologic screening of different pro-opiomelanocortin protein motifs, software SCAN was used to extract two repetitive and bioactive sequences (SYSMEHFRWGKPV and YGGFM). Two extracted sequences are present in the following molecules: pro-opiomelanocortin precursor, pro-opiomelanocortin, corticotropin, melanotropin, lipotropin beta, proenkephalin, preproenkephalin, endorphin beta i adrenorphin (Table 1).

Bioactive peptide fragments SYSMEHFRWGKPV and YGGFM were tested individually and in combination, by means of the standard cytoprotection model of the 96% ethanol induced gastric lesions in male Wistar rats (6, 7). In the control group of 8 animals treated with physiological saline the area of gastric lesions was 255.5±78.1 mm² (mean±standard deviation, FIG. 1) (7). In the group of 8 animals treated with the combination of peptides SYSMEHFRWGKPV (1 mg/kg) and YGGFM (10 mg/kg) the area of gastric lesions was 0.3±0.7 mm² (p<0.05 compared to controls, FIG. 1) (7). In the group of 8 animals treated with peptide SYSMEHFRWGKPV (1 mg/kg) the area of gastric lesions was 5.9±8 mm² (p<0.05 compared to controls, FIG. 1) (7). In the group of 8 animals treated with peptide YGGFM (10 mg/kg) the area of gastric lesions was 139.4±36.1 mm² (p<0.05 compared to controls, FIG. 1) (7). The combination of peptides SYSMEHFRWGKPV and YGGFM that provided best cytoprotective effect is patented under the name KOMET. Peptides or their combination did not show any iritative effect on the normal gastric mucosa (7).

FIGURES AND TABLES

Table 1 defines the combination of two bioactive sequences of pro-opiomelanocortin named KOMET, and three combinations of their chemical structural formulas KOMET-1, KOMET-2 i KOMET-3 (obtained by combining individual structural formulas).

FIG. 1 defines the cytoprotective effects of the bioactive peptide fragments SYSMEHFRWGKPV and YGGFM of the pro-opiomelanocortin molecule, and their combination KOMET, in the model of the ethanol induced gastric lesions in rats.

DESCRIPTION OF THE POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS OF THE INVENTION

Bioactive sequences KOMET, and the combination of their structural formulas KOMET-1, KOMET-2 i KOMET-3 defined in Table 1 will be used as the bioactive peptides for the modulation of the inflammation and wound healing. The purpose of defining structural formulas KOMET, KOMET-1, KOMET-2 i KOMET-3, from the bioactive regions of the pro-opiomelanocortin hormone (6-9), is to obtain structural formulas (sequences) of the potential drugs in a quick and efficient way.

The aim of the invention KOMET, KOMET-1, KOMET-2 i KOMET-3 is to obtain the drug that prevents and stops tissue and organ damage in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, as well as in trauma, infection and burns of the:

1. connective tissue, joints and bones

2. central and peripheral nervous system, optic nerve, eye and ear

3. skin, hair and nails

4. digestive system, liver, pancreas, oral cavity, teeth and sinuses

5. immune system, bone marrow lymph nodes and spleen

6. cardiovascular system

7. respiratory, system respiratornog sustava

8. reproductive system

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF THE INVENTION

Bioactive sequences of the pro-opiomelanocortin KOMET, KOMET-1, KOMET-2, i KOMET-3 will be applied subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally and intravenously. Topical applications include ointments, creams, gels, suppositories, vaginal suppositories, eye-drops and ear-drops.

REFERENCES

1. L. Baranyi, W. Campbell, K. Ohishima et al., Nature Medicine 1 (1995) 894-901.

2. J. E. Blalock, Nature Medicine, 1(1995) 876-878.

3. N. {haeck over (S)}tambuk, On the Optimization of Complementary Protein Coding, in: S. Ohno, K. Aoki, M. Usui, E. Uchio (Eds.), Uveitis Today, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1998, pp 315-318.

4. N. {haeck over (S)}tambuk and P. Konjevoda, Period. Biol. 101 (1999) 363-368.

5. N. {haeck over (S)}tambuk, N. Gotovac, M. Martinis et al. Simple Three-step Method for the Analysis and Design of Repetitive and Bioactive protein Motifs, in: V. B. Bajić (Ed.), Advances in Systems Signals Control and Computers vol. II, IAAMSAD, and ANS, Durban, 1998, pp 310-311.

6. P. Konjevoda, N. {haeck over (S)}tambuk, D. Vikić-Topić et al. Croat. Chem. Acta 73 (2000) 1111-1121.

7. P. Konjevoda, N. {haeck over (S)}tambuk, G. Aralica and B. Pokrić, J. Physiol.—Paris 95 (1-6)(2001) 277-281.

8. J. M. Lipton and A. Catania, Immunol. Today 18 (1997) 140-145.

9. N. {haeck over (S)}tambuk N. Kopjar, K. {haeck over (S)}entija, et al. Croat. Chem. Acta 71 (1998) 591-605.

TABLES AND FIGURES

Table 1. Combination of two bioactive anf repetitive protein motifs (peptide YGGFM and peptide SYSMEHFRWGKPV) was determined computationally by means of the SCAN software (3-5) from the pro-opiomelanocortin precursor and pro-opiomelanocortin molecules. Repetitive peptid YGGFM is also present in the preproenkephalin, proenkephalin, lipotropin beta, endorphin beta and adrenorphin molecules (a). Peptide SYSMEHFRWGKPV is additionally present in melanotropin and corticotropin molecules (b).

Combination of bioactive peptides YGGFM and SYSMEHFRWGKPV of the pro-opiomelanocortin molecule is patented under the name KOMET.

Other combination of two sequences of both peptides are patented under the following names and structural formulas:

KOMET-1 characterised by the structural formula YGGFMSYSMEHFRWGKPVYGGFM,

KOMET-2 characterised by the structural formula YGGFMSYSMEHFRWGKPV i

KOMET-3 characterised by the structural formula SYSMEHFRWGKPVYGGFM. (a) No. Sequence YGGFM Residue 1 Adrenorphin 1-5 2 Endorphin beta 1-5 3 Preproenkephalin 54-58, 61-65, 90-94, 140-144, 164-168, 215-219 4 Proenkephalin 100-104, 107-111, 136-140, 186-190, 210-214, 261-265 5 Lipotropin beta 59-63, 61-65 6 Pro-opiomelanocortin precursor 232-236 7 Pro-opiomelanocortin 3-7, 237-241 (b) No. Sequence SYSMEHFRWGKPV Residue 1 Melanotropin 1-13 2 Corticotropin 1-13 3 Pro-opiomelanocortin precursor 133-145 4 Pro-opiomelanocortin 138-150

FIG. 1. Cytoprotective effects of the bioactive peptide fragments SYSMEHFRWGKPV and YGGFM of the pro-opiomelanocortin molekule in the rat model of the ethanol induced gastric lesions. Combination of sequences KOMET (SYSMEHFRWGKPV+YGGFM) exhibits stronger cytoprotective effects than individual peptide sequences. 

1. Combination of the two bioactive and repetitive pro-opiomelanocortin sequences KOMET, characterised by the structural formulas SYSMEHFRWGKPV and YGGFM (Table 1), for the synthesis of drugs that are taken as systemic and topical preparations.
 2. Combination of the two bioactive and repetitive pro-opiomelanocortin sequences KOMET-1, characterised by the structural formula YGGFMSYSMEHFRWGKPVYGGFM, for the synthesis of drugs that are taken as systemic and topical preparations.
 3. Combination of the two bioactive and repetitive pro-opiomelanocortin sequences KOMET-2, characterised by the structural formula YGGFMSYSMEHFRWGKPV, for the synthesis of drugs that are taken as systemic and topical preparations.
 4. Combination of the two bioactive and repetitive pro-opiomelanocortin sequences KOMET-3, characterised by the structural formula SYSMEHFRWGKPVYGGFM, for the synthesis of drugs that are taken as systemic and topical preparations. 